Miracle baby whose mother was told twice by doctors to abort him enjoys his first New Year

Scans showing a life-threatening heart condition convinced specialists he had a rare genetic disorder which would probably leave him stillborn.

Yet Kai's parents, Gaynor and Lee, would not give up on him despite advice to have an abortion.

Miracle baby Kai is lucky to be alive after his mother twice refused advice to abort him during pregnancy

They switched hospitals and were rewarded with a baby who quickly confounded medical opinion.

Ten months on, and despite being a tiny 14lb, Kai is a picture of health and his parents believe he will lead a normal life.

'Little Kai is perfect,' said his 28-year-old mother.

'We refused to give up on him and decided throughout the pregnancy that as long as he was fighting, we would continue fighting with him.

'It is a complete horror to think he may not be here with us.

'I am so glad we stuck by our guns and, although we did listen to what consultants told us along the way - we decided to do what we wanted to do for our baby.'

30.12.08
Miracle baby Kai Purdy is lucky to be alive to celebrate 2009 - after his mum refused TWO suggestions to abort him during pregnancy.
The cute 10-month-old has defied odds to be a picture of health and developing as any other child his age despite being told he could suffer with a fatal chromosome defect and a life threatening heart condition.
Credit must read : Ross Parry Agency

A scan carried out 48 hours after Kai's birth showed the heart problem which had almost completely blocked the aortic artery was somehow correcting itself.

And earlier tests had already indicated Kai did not, as feared, have Edwards Syndrome - a rare genetic disease which usually kills babies before birth or shortly after.

Tests are being carried out to discover if he has a chromosome problem affecting his growth but his parents are just delighted to have a happy and relatively healthy baby.

Mrs Purdy, a quality inspector, said: 'Family and friends often remark on what life would be like if we'd listened to the doctors' advice.

'But when we look at our happy and smiling little baby boy we can't be angry at anyone.

'We wanted the doctors' full and honest opinions so we could be fully prepared for all outcomes.'

Gaynor Purdy, left, said she and her husband Lee never even considered terminating her pregnancy and that they will never take Kai for granted

The saga began four months into her pregnancy when doctors revealed Kai had a heart condition called hypoplastic aortic arch.

This is where part of the heart is narrow and underdeveloped and requires open surgery after birth.

They were told the condition could worsen and they should consider an immediate termination.

The prognosis worsened on New Year's Eve when tests suggested Kai also had Edwards Syndrome.

Scans had shown clear markers of the condition, a strawberry shaped skull, a low-set jaw and low birth weight.

Sufferers do not survive beyond four months old - if they manage to survive to birth - and consultants again urged the couple to consider a termination.

Mrs Purdy said: 'We never once considered we could go through an abortion. It was never even an option for us.'

She was scheduled for a caesarean at 34 weeks but on the day of the surgery at Leeds General Infirmary the consultant said he couldn't go ahead because of the suspected Edwards Syndrome.

He concluded it would be safer for the mother's health and future chance of pregnancy to deliver naturally when she was full term.

The next day the Purdys set about persuading the consultant at Scunthorpe General, the hospital in their home town, to operate and give Kai the best hope of some life.

Mrs Purdy agreed to have an amniocentesis test - an invasive and potentially risky check for genetic disorders.

It showed up no problems and doctors went ahead with the c-section.

Kai was born on March 5 weighing just 2lb 6oz and spent six weeks in hospital before going home. Mrs Purdy added: 'Doctors told us he was a little miracle baby.

'They said his heart must have been mending itself.

'Seeing him with food smeared all over his little face is a joy we thought we may never see and we will never take him for granted.'